Eldoret, Kenya - Eldoret, the nerve centre of Kenyan athletics, produced yet another spectacular display of cross country running with Abraham Chebii rising from the ashes to win his first major title in three years and the on-song Pauline Korikwiang completing a hat-trick of victories in the last of the six-meet Athletics Kenya national cross country series.

And the setting couldn’t have been more inspiring than Kenyan Olympic legend Kipchoge Keino’s Kazi Mingi farm on the outskirts of Eldoret town, the clear skies providing an ideal backdrop to a bruising battle between Kenyan stars and their half-brothers from Bahrain and Qatar who are training in the Rift Valley ahead of the long 2009 season.

Japheth Korir and Hilda Chepkemei won the junior races at the meeting that attracted close to 1000 runners from Kenya, Qatar, Bahrain, Djibouti and Uganda.

Injuries behind him, Chebii storms to solid outing

Chebii is back after a career threatening thigh injury and the short course silver medalist at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships (St Etienne-St Galmier) hopes the win against a classy field will kick-start his campaign to make the Kenyan team to this year’s championships in Amman.

It was always going to be a difficult race and the sweltering Rift Valley heat melted away Qatar’s 3000m Steeplechase World record holder, Saif Saaeed Shaheen, who pulled off after the first two-kilometre lap as the leading pack played mind games on each other.

Olympic 1500m silver medalist Asbel Kiprop was the next casualty as the lead toyed between Chebii, Levy Matebo and Isaac Ismael Rashid (Qatar) before Chebii pulled away to open a 40-metre gap at the top of the field, his finishing kick making the difference as he won in 36:14.6.

Matebo (37:08.6) gave up the ghost and finished fifth, allowing Barnabas Kosgei (36:35.1) and Peter Kamaisi (36:42.4) to finish third and fourth behind Chebii and second-placed Rashid (36:28.3).

“I’m very happy that I’ve finally come through after my nagging injury,” Chebii said. “It’s been on and off and now its looks like its finally gone.”

“I will discuss my schedule for this season with my manager Ricky Simms but for the moment I’m focused on the cross country and I hope I will make the Kenyan team to Amman.”

Korikwiang on target for Amman

The senior women’s 8km race was equally tough and it looks like 2006 junior champion Pauline Korikwiang has exorcised the spirits that cost her a second straight junior title at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa two years back when she miscounted her laps.

With veteran Sally Barsosio in the mix, Korikwiang was up against formidable opposition. But after just one kilometre, Korikwiang already looked quite comfortable, opening up a 10-metre gap and as the race wore on, there was no doubting who the winner would be.

It was Korikwiang’s third win of the series after triumphs in Machakos and Meru in November and December ’08. She stopped the clock at 26:55.9 with Rose Kosgei (27:05.4) second and Ann Jeptanui (27:14.5) third.

Korikwiang’s form this season has been incredible and a training stint on the Entoto Hills of Addis Ababa with the legendary Ethiopian multiple World record holder Haile Gebrselassie last month seems to have encouraged her further.

“It was not that difficult today,” the 20-year-old Korikwiang said. “My early training seems to be paying off and I’m quite sure I will make the team to Amman.”

Junior battles

Mercy Cherono, the 3000m World junior champion and winner in the second race of the series in Kericho last November, was not in the junior women’s 6km start list, but her teammates from the Kiptenden Athletics Club made up for her absence by sweeping the board in the race.

Hilda Chepkemoi (19:30.7) and Judith Chepkoech (20:07.3), both of Kiptenden Club (20:07.3) took the first and third places with Lucia Muia (19:59.0) sandwiched between the pair on the podium.

In the junior men’s 8km race, Japheth Korir shocked pre-race favourite Titus Mbishae, the World Junior Championships 10,000m silver medalist in Bydgoszcz, winning in 23:22.7.

Coach Kirwa confident

Kenya’s head coach Julius Kirwa was impressed with the performances on the Kazi Mingi course and the season in general.

“For the first time I’m very confident about the senior women’s team’s potential in Amman after looking at the performances of Pauline Korikwiang, Irene Limika and Linet Masai,” Kirwa said. “I’m quite sure that we will take the team title with such performers.”

With four to score in Amman, the Kenyan women are already firing warning shots to their opponents.

After the completion of the six meetings sponsored by the Kenya Commercial Bank, the Kenyan cross country calendar now shifts to the high profile Armed Forces (January 21) and Kenya Police (January 24) championships ahead of the national championships and trials in February.

Elias Makori for IAAF

Leading results:

12km senior men:
1. Abraham Chebii 36:14.6, 2. Isaac Ismael Rashid (Qatar) 36:28.3, 3. Barnabas Kosgei 36:35.1, 4. Peter Kamaisi 36:42.4, 5. Levi Matebo 37:08.6, 6. Stephen Kiprotich 37:10.8, 7. Richard Ndegwa 37:13.6, 8. Leting Kimaiyo 37:30.2, 9. Gilbert Yegon 37:30.7, 10. Mike Mutai 37:31.2.. DNF - Saif Saaeed Shaheen (Qatar); DNF – Asbel Kiprop

8km senior women:
1. Pauline Korikwiang 26:55.9, 2. Rose Kosgei 27:05.4, 3. Ann Jeptanui 27:14.5, 4. Florence Jepkemboi 27:47.7, 5. Antoninah Ruto 27:50.7, 6. Jane Mwikali 27:58.3, 7. Lydia Rotich 28:08.9, 8. Milcah Jerotich 28:18.0, 9. Eunice Kioko 28:27.1, 10. Agnes Katunge 28:47.1.

Junior men 8km:
1. Japheth Korir 23:22.7, 2. Gilbert Masai 23:24.0, 3. Charles Kibet 23:33.4, 4. Titus Mbishae 23:36.8, 5. Peter Kosgei 23:45.0, 6. Philomen Rono 23:46.0, 7. Silas Kiplagat 23:53.0, 8. Paul Tanui 23:53.2, 9. Boniface Kosgei 23:58.8, 10. Collins Chelanga 24:04.6.

Junior women 6km:
1. Hilda Chepkemoi 19:30.7, 2. Lucia Muia 19:59.0, 3. Judith Chepkoech 20:07.3, 4. Purity Rotich 20:07.8, 5. Frida Mwikali 20:11.7, 6. Stacy Ndiwa 20:17.4, 7. Maurine Mutindi 20:22.3, 8. Faith Chengetich 20:24.9, 9. Miriam Muthoni 20:26.4, 10. Pauline Eyeban 20:35.6.